Bridgeport/Islanders Prospect Roundup, March 4th

If the AHL season ended today, the Sound Tigers wouldn't just be in the playoffs. They would win their division and in the first round be facing hated rivals the Connecticut Whale. If the Islanders themselves somehow snuck into the playoffs, their most likely first round opponent would be the Short Island Smurfs. The things that dreams and fantasies are made of. One of the key reasons behind BP's push? Anders Nilsson, who was just named goalie of the month for February and has the 5th best SV% in the league (#4? Yann Danis).

Nilsson already had an outrageous January. As part of the December losing streak the team went on, Nilsson posted a .873 SV% during December. But in January he had a .944 SV%, only to top himself with a .955% in February. Anders has come a long way from being the kid who nearly lost his starting job in Luleau to the relatively unknown David Rautio. With Kevin Poulin and Nilsson, one of the two is bound to work out at the NHL level.

Feb. 26 Bridgeport 3, Albany (Devils) 2

Break out the Trevor Gillies to Islanders bandwagon! After Bridgeport fell behind 2-0 in the 2nd period, it was Gillies (Tony Romano, Calvin De Haan) who started the comeback with his first goal of the year. Not to take anything away from Aaron Ness though, who scored the next two goals (Scott Howes, Justin DiBenedetto) (Dibo, Romano) to give BP the come from behind victory. Ness was your first star, Gillies second star and Dibo third star.[Highlights]

March 2nd Bridgeport 2, Albany (Devils) 5

Well, all good things must come to an end at some point. Especially when the team is sort of stripped of offensive talent. Following this game the leading scorer at BP is Matt Donovan, although he has 20 games in hand on Dibo and Rhett Rakhshani who are 5 points behind him. Down 2-0 after the first, Rakhshani (Dibo, Colliton) scored to open the second and cut the lead to one. But that was as close as BP would get , as Albany scored the next three goals to put this one away. Donovan (Marcinko) scored a goal in garbage time.

Coach Brent Thompson Postgame [Interview 1] [Interview 2]

Natural Born Kirills

It's weeks like these that always leave me a little worried about Kirill Kabanov. In 2 games this week, Shawningan posted 10 goals including a 6-0 rout. Yet all Kirill has to show for it is an assist. When the kid's hot, he's hot, but when he's cold, he's freezing.

Kirill Petrov had 1 game and did not have any points. He's 16-13-29 in 52 games.

OHL

Speaking about hot and cold, what a week for Niagara. They score 9 goals, then 2 goals, then 10 goals while winning all 3 games. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist in the first two games before breaking out 4 assists in the 10-goal game. Mitchell Theoret also had an assist in that game, and one of the 2 goals in the previous game.

After his 2 goal, 3 point night last Saturday, John Persson had a quiet 4 games. He notched just a goal in those games, during last nights 4-0 win for Red Deer.

Andrei Pedan played 3 games last week, and had a 1 goal, 2 point Saturday night. He also managed to only be penalized in one game last week.

Hit The Books: NCAA

*PR For Dummies 101 is popular this week

Brock Nelson had a goal on Saturday night to help UND sweep Minnesota State. In 34 games he has 22 goals and 16 assists. [Also this might have some Brock in it, but I haven't watched all the way]

Notre Dame split their games with Michigan State this weekend. Anders Lee had a goal in the losing effort Saturday night to open scoring. Robbie Russo had no points. Also Lee brings you on a tour of the Notre Dame locker room.

Denver swept Nebraska-Omaha, on Friday Night Scott Mayfield had 2 assists on Denver's 3 goals and was named 2nd star of the night.

No points for Jason Clark as Wisconsin split their weekend with Minnesota.

Cody Rosen Did Not Play.

Finnish Loans and Trust

Jesse Joensuu is up to 13-16-29 in 49 games for HV71.

Mikko Koskinen appears to be back in the starters seat, as he started both games that Kalpa has played in March, giving up 6 goals.

Johan Sundstrom had a goal and an assist in 4 games this week. On the year he is 6-4-10 in 48 games.